Tube coating machine



May 24, 1938 J. H. FRIDEN TUBE COATING MACHINE Filed April 10, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet l TTOR'NEY,

May 24, 1938- J. H. FRIDEN 2,118,59

TUBE COATING MACHINE Filed April l0, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTORI J ATTORNEY.

9 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 24, 1938. .1. H. FRIDEN TUBE COATING MACHINE Filed April 1o, .193e

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Inn.

May 24, 1938. J. H. FRIDN 2,118,599

TUBE COATING MACHINE Filed April lO, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 /Is A TTORNEY.

May 24, 1938. J. H. FRIDEN TUBE COATING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April l0, 1936 lNVENTOR. Jahn #ae'ff 7'5 ATTORNEY.

May 24, 1938. J. H. FRIDEN 2,118,599

TUBE COATING MACHINE FiledfApril 1o, 195e 9 sheets-sheet e May 24, 193s.

J. H. FRIDN TUBE COATING MACHINE Filed April lO, A1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR! 7%s ATTORNEY;

.May 24, 1938- J. H. FRIDEN 2,118,599

TUBE COATING MACHINE Filed April l0, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 771'5 ATTORN EY.

May 24, 1938. J. H. FRIDEN 2,118,599

TUBE COATING MACHINE Filed April lO, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 his ATTORNEY.

Patented May 24, 1938 l UNITED s'rA'rl-:s

PATENT OFFICE TUBE COATING MACHINE .lohn 1H. lFridn, Maplewood, N. J., assigner to The Sun Tube Corporation, Hillside, N. J., a. f corporation oi New Jersey Application April 10, i936, Serial No. 73,682

f n claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines ior applying a coating substance to hollow, cylindrical members, such as collapsible tubes and the like. In machines of this character the 5 member or tube is ordinarily placed upon a spindle which is brought into cooperation with a coating or printing roller by relative movement between the spindle and roller. When engaged the tube and roller rotate at the same peripheral i speed to transfer the coating substance or inl: lrorn the roller to the tube. The roller ordinarily has a soft, dexible surlace lormed ci a rubber i composition or the like and is pressed against the y tube with sucient pressure to effect a proper l trsier ol' the coating substance.'

ill'hen reierence is made to a coating substance herein it should be understood to mean any substance applied to the outer surface oi the member either in part or in whole and when applied in part it may suitably iorm any desired design.

Collapsible tubes are i'reduently subjected to three separate coating operations of this character.

'The ilrst coat is ordinarily a base coat of enamel or the lilre applied to substantially the entire 5 cylindrical surface ci the tube. To this there is usually applied a coating of inl; ci one or more colors, forming any chosen design and generally including certain printed matter. The design in this case is carried by a metal plate or cylinder from winch it is transferred by a soft roller of the t mentioned. Finally, many tubes are given an outer protective coating oi lacquer or the like.

The present invention has to do with the application oi any one of these coatings.

ln the operation ci an ordinary coating machine it will be apparent that if a tube is not l present upon the spindle when it is brought into cooperative relation with the coating roller, the coating substance will be transferred to the spindle inasmuch as the roller is ordinarily com.-

pressed by the tube to a greater extent than the thickness ol the tube wall. This necessitates wiping of the spindle to remove the coating or the coating will in part be transferred to the interior surface of the nent tube and may cause diculty in removing the tube.

d primary object oi the present invention has been to eliminate this objectionable coating oi the spindle in the absence oi a tube. To acl complish this end there is provided simple and effective means for withdrawing the coating roller from its active position whenever a tube is absent from the spindle as the spindle and roller are being brought into cooperative relation and for retaining the roller out of active position during the required interval. In its more specific aspects the invention involves the provision of electrical means for quickly withdrawing the roller as an empty spindle on a rotatable, multi-spindle support is carried into coating position, the roller remaining withdrawn until the spindle is shifted suiciently out el' such position.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a dual control over the devices ior withdrawing the coating roller, one control being exercised directly by the tube or other article to be coated and the other control being exercised by a portion of the main operating mechanism. These controls are so timed in their operations that the roller will remain constantly in its coating position so long as tubes are mounted on the successive spindles being presented at the coating station; on the other hand the coating roller is withdrawn in ample time and is held withdrawn for a sucient period to prevent coating of an empty spindle presented at the coating station.

Another feature of the invention is the provision, in conjunction with the ioregcing, oi particularly effective, automatic devices for applying tubes to the spindles ci the machine.

Other features and advantages will appear from the detailed description oi an illustrative embodiment oi the invention, which will now be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure i is a iront elevation oi the upper portion ol a coating machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view ci the machine, certain parts being brolren away to better illustrate other portions of the machine;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation oi the lower portion oi the machine;

Figure 4 is a view partly in side elevation and partly' in section, tahen along the broken line i-l oi Fig. il;

Figure 5 is a detail view illustrating a certain toggle construction and is taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. i;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view ci a switch member, taken along the line t--t ol Fig. 2;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the switch mem.- ber shown in Fig. 6;

Figure 8 is a horizontal section along the line B-d of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a horizontal section through a portion of the machine, taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. l;

Figure 10 is a vertical section along the line lli-I0 oi Fig. 9;,

Figure 1i is a view taken from the right side of Fig. l, showing in elevation a portion of the costing unit and devices for shifting the same Figure 12 is an enlarged, vertical section through the coating unit, taken along the broken line I2I2 of Fig. 9;

Figure 13 is a detail showing in perspective a portion of an arm for shifting the coating unit;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a cam-plate cooperating with the arm of Fig. 13;

Figure 15 is a vertical section along the line IB-II of Fig. 2, the Geneva driving mechanism being indicated in dot and dash lines in relation to the switch structure;

Figure 16 is a diagram illustratingV the timing of a pair of control switches;

Figure 17 is a diagram of the electric circuits controlled by the switches, and

Figure 18 is a similar diagram with certain of the parts in a shifted position.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the invention is shown applied to a coating machine of the type illustrated in my pending application 8er. No. 56,467 filed December 28, 1935. The machine comprises a main frame III provided with Suitable bearings adjacent its top to support a shaft I I. Adjacent its forward end this shaft has secured thereto a rotatable head I2 provided near its periphery with a series of axially extending spindles Il. 'Ihe latter may be of any suitable construction and may either be ilxedwith relation to the head or rotatable on the head. Adjacent the rear end of the shaft I I there is sec a Geneva wheel I4 arranged to tbe operated y a roller Il carried by a Geneva operating arm Il. The arm It, together with a locking disc Il, is carried by a shaft Il which is constantly rotated during the operation of the machine. For this purpose shaft Il carries a gear Il meshing with one of a pair of idler gears 2l. the other of which meshes with a gear 2l secured to a shaft 22. This shaft also carries a large gear 2l which meshes with a pinion 2l secured to a shaft 2i. Another large gear 2l secured to this shaft meshes with a pinion 21 secured to a shaft 2l, which is constantly driven by any suitable means, such as a motor 2|. It will be seen that through the train of mechanism iust described the head I2 will be rotated step by step in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 1), as indicated by the arrow, thus carrying the spindles Il from one station to another. The Geneva mechanism serves to lock the head in a definite position between the successive stages of movement.

The machine is preferably provided with means Yfor automatically supplying tubes to the spindles I3. For this purpose the mechanism more fully illustrated in the above-mentioned pending application may suitably be employed. Briefly, this mechanism comprises a chain l (Fig. l) having a series of spaced pins II, each adapted to carry a collapsible tube 32. Chain III serves to convey the tubes from any suitable point at which they were last handled or operated upon to the coating machine. As the tubes are carried around the lower supporting sprocket, shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, they are brought successively into engagement with a belt 3l which strips them from the pins and directs them into a channel formed by suitable guides Il. This channel is held at a suitable inclination so that the tubes tend to roll by gravity toward the lower end in a direction transverse to the movement of the belt 8l. In descending between the guides Il, the

kdevice to prevent breakage of the tubes are retarded by pins Il carried by a pair of chains traveling around sprockets 31 at their upper ends and sprockets Il at their lower ends. The lower sprockets 3l are rotated continuously at a suitable speed, in synchronism with the operation of the head I2, by means of a chain Il connected between a sprocket secured to the shaft Il and a sprocket secured to a stub shaft Il. Another sprocket secured to shaft Il drives a chain II, which in turn drives a sprocket secured to a shaft l2. 'I'he latter is connected by a universal joint with a shaft Il which, through another universal Joint, is connected with a shaft M to which the sprockets are secured.

As the chains 3l are continuously advanced by the means Just described, the tubes l2 are brought successively to a position in which they may drop by gravity into a trough 4l suitably positioned to retain the tube with its axis in direct line with the axis of one of the spindles I3 when the head I2 is stationary. Upon each step of movement of the head I2 a plunger 4I is reciprocated in line with and through the trough 45 for the purpose of forcing a tube from the trough onto an alined, spindle. Plunger 4B is carried by an arm 41 slidably mounted on a rod I8. A spring Il normally urges the plunger in the direction of the spindle until stopped by a collar secured to the plunger. This spring may be compressed slightly in the course of applying a tube to the spindle or it may simply be in the nature of a safety y parts in the event that some foreign matter, or the like, should interfere with the proper application of a tube to the spindle.

The mechanism for reciprocating the plunger 4I is best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. For this purpose a rod il attached to the arm 41 is 'sildably mounted in bearings carried by the main frame. The opposite end of the rod is connected by a link II with the upper end of a lever 52 rockably supported at its lower end upon the main frame. At an intermediate point the lever l2 carries a roller 53 adapted to engage the pe-..

riphery of a cam l secured to a shaft 55. For the purpose of holding the roller against the cam.

one link 5I of a toggle is connected to the lever 52v and the other link 51 of the toggle is connected at 5l to a part of the main frame. The joint 59 of the toggle is acted upon by a spring 60 which at its lower end bears upon a block 6I rockably mounted upon the main frame by means of trunnions l2. Spring 80 tends to straighten the toggle and thereby forces the roller 53 against the` cam. An advantage of this construction is that the force of the spring remains substantially uniform or may increase as the spring becomes extended. 'I'his is due to the fact that the togglel acts at a greater mechanical advantage as the spring becomes extended. In this way the application of appropriate pressure means of the plunger 4l throughout its stroke is insured. For the purpose of rotating the cam M in synchronism with the operation of other portions of the machine, the shaft 55 has secured thereto one of a pair of meshing, bevel gears 83, the other of which is secured to a vertical shaft Il. 'I'he upper end of this shaft is connected through bevel gears 6l with the shaft I8.

It will be clear from the foregoing that upon each revolution of the shaft I t the head I2 will be shifted one step to carry a new spindle I3 into alinement with the trough 45. The actual movement of head I2 takes place during about one-third of the revolution of shaft il. During t0 the tube by.A

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the period that the head is stationary the plunger 46 is operated to apply a tube to the spindle, in the manner explained. As the head i2 is rotated counter-clockwise (Fig. 1) through a succession of steps, a tube applied to one of the spindles will be brought into engagement with a coating roller 66 at the opposite side of the machine. This roller is carried by a shaft E1 supported in suitable bearings on an auxiliary frame 68. As best shown in Figs. 9 and 12, the auxiliary frame is supported by the main frame I and is held on the main frame by a pair of screws 69 passing through elongated slots in the auxiliary frame.

This attachment of the auxiliary frame is such that it may be shifted readily `to a slight extent relative to the main frame in the direction of the slots 10. A trough or guide channel 'Il is formed in the top of the main frame lll beneath the center of the auxiliary frame and slidingly receives a block 12 secured to the auxiliary frame. This block at its rear or righthand end (Figs. 9 and 10) is pivotally attached to the auxiliary frame by a screw lt. A screw 'It carried by the block at its forward end passes through an elongated slot l5 in the auxiliary frame. 'This allows for a slight angular adjustment of the block 12 with respect to the auxiliary frame. The precise position of the block with relation to the frame may be suitably determined by a pair of set-screws lb having screw-threaded engagement with lugs on the auxiliary frame and engaging a forwardly and upwardly projecting portion of the block. The purpose of this adjustment is to enable absolute alinement of the surface of the coating roller with the surface of the tube on the spindle it. if these surfaces are not correctly alined, it will be apparent that an uneven or otherwise improper application of the coating will result.

A pair oi springs lll, one at each side of the auxiliary frame tti, serves to urge the auxiliary frame toward the left (Figs. 9 and 10) with relation to the` main frame. These springs are compressed between the auxiliary traine and the ends of adjusting screws it. The adjusting screws are carried by brackets 'iii suitably secured to the main frame it. By appropriate adjustment voi? the screws the tension of the springs lil may be varied, as desired. For the purpose of shifting the auxiliary frame in the opposite direction, i. e., toward the right in Figs. 9 and l0, the block l2 is provided with a downwardly extending nut portion tit at its right end, having screwthreaded engagement'with a screw til extending through an opening in a plate tt secured to the main frame. The outer end of the screw di is provided with a hand-wheel tid by which the screw may be rotated to accurately adjust the normal position of the block llt and the auxiliary frame with relation to the main frame. Between the hub of the wheel. tt and the plate tt is mounted an arm dit having a pair ot V-shaped projections itt, one at each side of the pivot of the arm, arranged to cooperate with V-grooves tti in a hub of the plate di. Normally, the projectons t9 will coincide with the grooves t6. However, when thearm til is rocked, in a manner to be explained, the projections ride out of the V-grooves and thus serve to cam the arm rearwardly or toward the right in Figs. 9 and l0, carrying with it the wheel tt, the screw di and hence the entire auxiliary frame. Adjacent the outer end of the arm til there is attached a spring tl whose other end is connected with the main trarne and tends to hold the arm tt against a stop tti (Fig. li), this being also the position of the arm indicated in Figs. 9 and 10. Near the outer end of the arm l84 there is attached a link 88 whose lower end is connected with the armature 89 of a solenoid 90. Whenever this solenoid is energized, in the manner to be explained, the arm 84 is rocked against the action of spring Il to retract the auxiliary frame and the coating roller.

Cooperating with the roller 6G is another smaller roller 9 I- having trunnions supported by blocks 92 slidable in a slot or guideway 93 provided in the auxiliary frame. Adjusting screws 94 are provided to determine the positions of the blocks 92, the screws acting against springs which tend to urge the blocks outwardly. By appropriate adjustment of the screws 94, the roller 9| may be properly alined and a desired connection may be had between the resilient surfaces of the rollers 66 and 9i. A large roller 95, having its trunnions mounted in blocks 96, slidable in guideways 9'! in the auxiliary frame, engages the surface of the roller 9i. Adjusting screws 99 are provided for varying the positions of the ends of the roller 95 to insure proper alinement of this roller and to maintain the desired contact between it and the roller 9i. Roller 95 has its lower portion surrounded by a pan 99 carried by the auxiliary frame and adapted to retain the coating substance. Any suitable means may be provided for maintaining an appropriate level of the coating liquid in the pan. Preferably a pump will be employed to maintain continuous circulation of the coating substance between the pan and a reservoir into which the excess may descend through an overflow pipe. IThe pump and overflow arrangement are well known and are therefore not illustrated. It will be apparent that as the rollers tt, tl and 9b are rotated, in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. l, the coating substance will be picked up by the roller 9b, passed to the transfer roller 9i and applied by the latter to the surface of the roller tt. A. very even layer or iilm of the coating substance is in this way provided on the surface of the roller tit and is in part transferred by the latter to the outer surface of the tube on the adjacent spindle it.

For the purpose of rotating the coating rollers, a sprocket itt secured to the shaft tit is connected by a chain titi with a sprocket it carried by the shaft tl of the roller tit. A. series of intermeshing gears itt secured to the shafts of the three rollers are of appropriate size to insure rotation of the rollers at the saine peripheral speeds.

inasmuch as the roller tt, as well as the rollers 9i and 9b, is formed of a soft, resilient material,

such as rubber or a composition commonly ein--4 ployed in the transfer of coating substances, it is apparent that this roller would engage the surface of a spindle it brought into the coating position, opposite the roller, in the event that a tube were missing from the spindle. This would result in the transfer of a coating to the spindle, which in turn would be transferred to the interior of a tube subsequently applied to the spindie, which, obviously, would be objectionable. According to the present invention, therefore, means are provided for retracting the auxiliary frame tt through the operation of the solenoid 99 whenever a spindle without a tube is brought opposite the roller tt. Referring to Figs. i7 and 18, it will be seen that the solenoid 99 is adapted to be placed in circuit with a suitable source of current tilt whenever a switch ttt is operated.

Switch III is operated by a relay coil |01 connected in series with a transformer coil III, a switch arm ill, a contact lil. another contact and another switch arm H2. When the two switch arms are in engagement with tue contacts lil and I||, respectively, a circuit is completed through the relay |01. one side of the circuit being grounded. Current is supplied to the circuit by the transformer coil |00, whose primary or high voltage coil III is connected with the current source |00. Figure 18 shows the position of the parts with the switches A and B closed and the relay |01 energized to close the switch |06. Figure i7, on the other hand, shows the switch B open and the switch |06 correspondingly inoperative.

As best shown in Figure 15, the switch arm is operated by a lever ||4 pivoted within the switch box I I and having at its other end a roller ||0 cooperating with a cam IIT secured to the shaft Il. The lever lil will fall by gravity `into the position indicated in full lines or it may,

if desired, be urged into this position by a spring. When the cam strikes the roller during the rotation oi the shaft il, the lever will be lifted into the dotted-line position indicated, thus allowing the switch arm |00 to spring away from the contact Ill.

Switch B comprises the arm ||2, previously mentioned, which is pivotally mounted at III on a bracket H0 secured to the frame. A spring |20 connected between a stud on the arm ||2 and a lug on the frame tends to rock the arm ||2 into the dotted-line position indicated in Fig. 6. A pair of set screws 2| may be provided to determine the limits of movement of the arm ||2. Ihe lower end of the arm has a portion of its surface formed of or covered with insulating material |22. 'I'he balance of the arm, however, is formed of good conducting material, as indicated at |22 in Fig. 8. Accordingly, it will be seen that when the arm is in the full-line position (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) the contact i|| will engage i the insulating material and the switch will be open. When the arm swings into the dotted-line position, however, the contact will engage the conducting surface and the switch will hence be closed. A spring |24 may be provided within a suitable housing to urge the contact outwardly against the arm ||2.

The position of the arm ||2 is determined by the presence or absence of a tube on the spindle II. When a tube is present on the spindle, its neck extends into the plane of a portion |26 at the upper end of the arm ||2. This upper portion of the arm is formed with an arcuate face |21 substantially concentric with the shaft Ii when the arm is in the full-line position of Fig. i6. 'I'he face or edge |21 is normally, however, in the dot and dash position, indicated in Pigs. 6 and 16, due to the action of the spring |20. When the neck |25 of a tube is brought into a position opposite the roller Il, it will produce a camming action upon the arm and rock it into the full-line position. This, in ellect, serves to open the switch. Should no tube be present on the spindle. no camming action`upon the lever ||2 will take place since no part of the spindle extends into the plane of the portion |26. Accordingly, the spring |20 will remain eiective to keep the switch closed. The lever ||2 might be so constructed and arranged that the switch would be held continuously open so long as the successive spindles brought to the coating station were provided with tubes. However, as shown.

the preferred construction is such that the lever is rocked by the spring |20 each time a tube is carried away from the coating station and it is then returned to the full-line position by the next tube.

The operation of the switches A and B is such that when the tubes are provided on each of the spindles il, presented at the coating station throughout a continuous period ot operation, the solenoid Il will not be operated and the roller Il will remain in its'operative position continuously. However, should a tube be missing from a particular spindle, the roller I6 will be retracted as the spindle is swung through the last portion of its movement, about 655, and will remain retracted so long as the empty spindle remains opposite the roller and until it is carried about 655 to the opposite side of the roller. The appropriate timing of the switches for this purpose is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 16. The regular stationary positions of the spindles Il and tubes 22 are indicated in full lines. Let us assume now that the movement of the head i2 is about to begin to carry the spindles into the next station, i. e., through lan arc of 40. Considering the tube on the center line of the coating station, as this is moved through the iirst 10, its neck will retain the arm l I2 in its shifted position and thus hold switch B in the 03" position, as indicated by the upper half of the black segment |20. As the tube continues through the next 10 of movement to the position designated |20, the arm ||2 will be swung info and maintained in the "switch-on" position. This will bring the next tube into the position indicated at l". As this next tube'shifts through the next 10. the arm ||2 will still remain in the switch-on position but as the new tube commences the final 10 ci its movement toward the center line of the coating station, it will engage and shift the arm to the "oiI" position. Should no tube be present on the spindle as it is moved through the 20 arc deilned by the face |21, the arm ||2 will remain continuously in its switchon position, as indicated bythe white segment III of the diagram. f

The operation-of switch A is indicated by the three aiined segments |32, |32 and |34. Considering the pition of the parts when the new tube has reached the position |30,`roller ||I will be resting upon the center line f the cam H1. This means that the lever H4 will be raised and the 'switch A will be in the "off" position. Now, as the tube progresses toward the center line of the coating station, the cam |`|`wlll retain the switch in the open or cit position during the next 13%, of movement of the tube, which corresponds with about of movement of the cam. 'Ihis is illustrated by the segment |32. During the last 6% of movement of the spindle, or about the next 30 of movement of the cam, the roller Il! will drop to the inner portion of the cam and thus shift the switch into the on position. At this point the rotation of the head l2 will have stopped and it will remain in its new station during about the next 240 of rotation of the shaft il and cam H1. Throughout this period the switch A will remain in the on position. Now, at the beginning of the next step of movement of the head l2, the switch A will remain in the on" position during the first 635 of movement of the head, or about 30 rotation of the cam ||`i. This on condition of switch A is represented by segment |23 which corresponds with 300 of movement oi the Geneva arm. At the beginning of the next 13%o movement of the head, or about 30" movement of the cam, the latter will lift the roller IIE into the elevated position and will hold it there, with the switch in the off condition, as indicated by segment |34. This brings us back to the point where the roller is at the center line of the cam Ill and the next tube or spindle has reached the position |30 so that the same cycle is ready to be repeated. It should be observed, in connection with the foregoing, that the Geneva arm imparts a variable speed movement to the Geneva wheel which is most rapid at the time the cam |I1 is acting upon the roller H6. This accounts for the fact that a 30 movement of the arm at one part of its cycle imparts about 13%, movement to the head and at another part of the cycle imparts only about 62/3 movement to the head.

The thing to be observed from the diagram is that when tubes are present on all of the spindles i3 as they are brought opposite the coating roll,

one or the other of the switches A and B will be open at all times so that the solenoid will not be energized. On the other hand, when no tube is present on a particular spindle, the solenoid will be energized as this spindle approaches within 6%" of the center line of the coating station and will remain energized so long as the spindle remains in this position and until it moves (i2/3 away from this position. This will insure amply against the coating oi the empty spindle.

lit will be understood that the particular degrees speeirled in the foregoing discussion have been given simply by way of illustration and will vary according to the details or the construction. The operation of the switch .d need not, and probably will notin any particular case taire place precisely at the instants specied. lit is primarily important that the od position oi this switch will overlap with the od position of switch B when there is a tube present and also that the on positions oi the two switches will coincide over a suiiicient portion of the arc oi movement of a spindle when no tube is present to avoid any possible contact between the spindle and the roller tt.

The operation of the machine is believed to be clear irom the foregoing. However, it may .i be briefly summarized as follows:

Tubes delivered to the coating machine by the chain it are removed by the belt it and deposited against the pins it on the chains it. One by one they are dropped into the trough lit and are forced by the plunger d6 onto the successive spindles i3 as the latter are brought one by one into line with the trough. Upon each successive step of movement of the head l2 a tube or spindle will be brought opposite the roller tt. Ii a tube is present on the spindle, the roller will revolve in contact with it and will transfer a coating to its surface, but if an empty spindle is presented at the coating station, the auxiliary frame td will be retracted by the solenoid lill as the spindle approaches within, say, 62/3" oi the center line of the coating position. The frame remains retracted so long as the empty spindle is at the coating station and until it has moved, say, 6% away from the center line of the coating station. rI'he coated tubes may be removed from the spindles either manually or automatically and applied in any convenient way to another chain for conveying them to any suitable drying point.

While an illustrative form of the invention has been described in considerable detail, it will be understood that numerous changes in the construction and arrangement oi the parts may be made without departing from the general principles and scope of the invention. The terms and expressions employed herein havebeen used as terms of description and not of limitation.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, an intermittently rotatable head, article retaining means on said head, a roller for applying a coating to articles on said head as they are brought to and held at a certain position, and meanslfor disabling said coating applying roller when the article retaining means is brought to and held at said position without an article.

2. In a machineof the class described, a roller for applying a coating to articles to be coated, a plurality of rotatable means for retaining articles to be coated, means for bringing said retaining means successively into position opposite said roller, and means for disabling said roller whenever an article is absent from one of said retaining means as it is brought opposite said roller.

3. In a machine of the class described means for applying a coating to articles to be coated, means for conveying articles to be coated into operative relation to said coating means, means tor operating said conveying means, and means controlled at successive intervals by the articles and by the operating means for disabling said coating means.

d. in a machine of the class described means for applying a coating to articles to be coated, means for conveying articles to be coated into operative relation to said coating means, means ior operating said coating means and said conveying means, means ier disabling said coating means, and means operated by the articles and by said operating means ior controlling the operation of said disabling means.

5. in a machine oi the class described coating means, a plurality oi spindles adapted to retain hollow articles to be coated, means for'supporting said spindles and shitting the same to and irom a position adjacent said coating means, means for operating said supporting means to sluit said spindles, disabling means for said coatlng means, and means controlled at successive intervals by said operating means and by the presence or absence or articles on said spindles as they approach said position for operating said disabling means.

6. In a machine of the class described coating means, a plurality oi spindles adapted to retain hollow articles to be coated, means for supporting and shifting said spindles to and from a position adjacent said coating means, means for rendering said coating means ineffective, a solenoid for operating said last mentioned means, a switch for controlling the operation of said solenoid, operating means for said supporting and shifting means, and means controlled jointly by articles on said spindles and by said operating means for operating said switch.

7. In a machine of the class described coating means, a plurality oi spindles adapted to retain hollow articles to be coated, means for supporting said spindles and shifting the same to and from a position adjacent said coating means, means for rendering said coating means ineffective, a solenoid for operating said last mentioned means, a main operating means for shifting said supporting means, and means for controlling sald solenoid comprising a switch operated by articles on said spindles and a switch operated by said main operating means.

- 8. In a machine of the class described coating means, a plurality of spindles adapted to retain hollow articles to be coated, means for supporting said spindles and shii'ting the same to and from a position adjacent said coating means, means for rendering said coating means inefiective, a solenoid for operating said last mentioned means, a main operating means i'or shifting said supporting means, and means for controlling said solenoid comprising a switch operated by articles on said spindles and a switch operated by said main operating means, said switches being operated in timed relation to prevent operation of said solenoid so long as the spindles have articles thereon as they are brought to the coating position.

9. In a machine of the class described means for operating the machine through a predetermined cycle, a spindle for supporting an article to be coated, a coating roller, means for bringing said spindle and coating roller relatively toward and away from each other on successive cyclos of operation oi' the machine, and means for rendering the coating roller ineifective whenever an article is absent from said spindle as the spindle and roller are moved relattvely toward each other.

10. In a machine of the class described means for operating the machine through a predetermined cycle, a spindle for supporting an article to be coated, a coating roller, means for bringing said spindle and coating roller relatively toward and away from each other on successive cycles oi' operation of the machine, and means controlled jointly by said operating means and by an article on said spindle for rendering the coating roller ineilective whenever an article is absent from said spindle as the spindle and roller are moved relatively toward each other.

l1. In a tube coating machine a rotatable head, spindles on said head i'or supporting tubes to be coated, a coating roller, means for intermittently rotating said head to carry said spindles successively opposite said roller, means for continuously rotating said roller, and means for retracting said roller to an ineii'ective position whenever a spindle without a tube is brought opposite the roller.

l2. In a tube coating machine a rotatable head, spindles on said head for supporting tubes to be coated, a coating roller, means tor intermittently rotating said head to carry said spindles successively opposite said roller, means for continuously rotating said roller, means for retracting said roller to an ineilfective position, and means controlled jointly by said ilrst mentioned means and by the presence or absence of a tube from a spindle as it is brought opposite said roller for operating said retracting means.

13. In a tube coating machine a rotatable head, spindles on said head for supporting tubes to be coated, a coating roller, means for intermittently rotating said head to carry said spindles successively opposite said miler, means for continuously rotating said roller, means for retracting said roller to an ineilective position, and means for controllin said last mentioned means comprising a member Aengageable by tubes on said spindles but out of the path ot the spindles themselves.

14. In a machine of the class described a rov tatable head, spindles on said head for supporting tubes to be coated, means for delivering tubes to a point adjacent said'v head, means for automatically applying said' tubes to said spindles, means for intermittently rotating said head to carry said spindles successively to a coating station, a coating roller at said station for applying a coating to tubes on said spindles, common means ior operating said tube applying means, said head rotating means and said coating roller, and means for rendering said coating roller ineffective when an empty spindle is presented at said coating station.

l5. In a machine o! the class described a rotatable head, spindles on said head for supporting tubes to be coated, means for delivering tubes to a point adjacent said head, means for automatically applying said tubes to said spindles, means for intermittently rotating said head to carry said spindles successively to a coating station, a coating roller at said station for applying a coating to tubes on said spindles, common means for operating said tube applying means, said head rotating means and said coating roller, and means for rendering said coating roller ineffective when an empty spindle is presented at said coating station, said last mentioned means being controlled jointly by said common operating means and by the presence or absence oi' a tube from a spindle presented at the coating station.

16. In a machine of the class described coating means, a plurality of spindles adapted to retain hollow articles to be coated, means for supporting said spindles and sluiting the same to and from a position adjacent said coating means, continuously operating means for driving said supporting means to shift the spindles one after another to and from said position, means for rendering said coating means ineil'ective, a solenoid for operating said last mentioned means, andswitch means i'or controlling the operation oi said solenoid, said switch means being controlled at least in part by the articles on said spindles and being constructed and arranged to cause said solenoid to be energized only when a spindle without an article thereon is brought to said position adjacent the coating means.

17. In a machine of the class described a spindle lor supporting an article to be coated, coating means, continuously operating means for shifting said spindle toward and away from said coating means, continuously operating means for operating said coating means to apply a coating to an article brought toward said coating means, and means controlled at least in part by the article on said spindle constructed and arranged to render said coating means ineective only when said spindle reaches a position closely adjacent said coating means without an article thereon.

JOHN H. FRIDN. 

